Michael Becker, DO ’87, MS, FACOFP, receiving the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) Osteopathic Family Medicine Educator of the Year Award.
Kind, compassionate, and selfless.
Those are just a few of the words used to describe Michael A. Becker, DO ’87, MS, FACOFP, associate dean of clinical education.
Becker was recently chosen by the ACOFP as the 2024 Osteopathic Family Medicine Educator of the Year. It’s an honor that means a lot to him.
“This one's really big because it's our specialty college,” Becker said. “I was speechless at first and then very excited to tell my family.”
Upon learning of his award, Becker’s family and friends came together to tell him how he has not only impacted their lives, but the lives of others.
“You show great emotion in all that you do,” said Daniel Parenti, DO ’87, FCCP, FACOI. “Whether it’s something as simple as going to a Bruce Springstein concert, teaching
students and residents on rounds, or caring for your family, we all know that you’re
a great husband and a great father.”
Kenneth J. Veit, DO ’76, MBA, provost and senior vice president of academic affairs, added, “I appreciate you; PCOM has appreciated you for many years, and now the world is appreciating you even more.”
Humbled by any recognition, Becker is never first in line to accept praise. For him, it always comes back to the students.
“I think teaching is very individual. It’s just like treating a patient,” he said. “It’s one person at a time, one patient at a time, one student at a time. You might lecture to a class of 260 students, but one person might remember something you said or did that made them feel something, and that’s important and humbling.”
Becker recalled getting emotional on Match Day when students stopped to hug and thank him for their overall success as PCOM.
“It's really incredible to realize the effects that you have on others,” he shared. “I’m fortunate to be able to do this for a living.”
The ACOFP Osteopathic Family Medicine Educator of the Year Award honors an individual who exemplifies the osteopathic family medicine profession’s highest standards of excellence in teaching and who has made significant, commendable, and long-standing contributions to the academic advancement of osteopathic students, residents, and the osteopathic profession.
For the past 125 years, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
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